Origin
Salem, IN
Late night in Salem on Friday
Local time
3:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salem, IN to Indianapolis, IN
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
78.1 mi
126 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 44m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salem, IN
Banx Photography
Trip Overview
The drive from Salem, IN to Indianapolis, IN covers 78.1 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 74, East 1st Street, West 3rd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.6 miles on I 74. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.21 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.1 miles from Salem, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 78.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (28%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 52m drive with frequent turns across 78.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 74 is the longest continuous segment at about 21.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near US 27; SR 44 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.1 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (US 27; SR 44 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (SR 44 / West Union Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
3.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 27; SR 44 / South Main Street
Turn right onto US 27; SR 44 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
3.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
SR 44 / West Union Street
Turn left onto SR 44 / West Union Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
48.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
5
49 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
I 74; US 421
Merge onto I 74; US 421
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
77.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
|
North Illinois Street
Turn right onto North Illinois Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 21.6 mi | 23m |
| East 1st Street | 16.8 mi | 25m |
| West 3rd Street | 16.4 mi | 24m |
| West Union Street | 11.5 mi | 17m |
| Southeastern Avenue | 5 mi | 7m |
| Liberty Avenue | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| East Washington Street | 1 mi | 3m |
| South Salem Road | 0.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 21.6 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, IN and Indianapolis, IN.
1
Start on County Road 250 South
7 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Road 250 South
2
Turn right onto County Road 200 East
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 200 East
3
Turn straight onto South Salem Road
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Salem Road
4
Turn left onto US 27
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Liberty Avenue
5
Continue on US 27
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
College Corner Avenue
6
Turn slight left onto US 27; SR 44
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Seminary Street
7
Turn right onto US 27; SR 44
330 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Main Street
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto SR 44
12 mi
·
17 min
·
West Union Street
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto SR 44
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Eastern Avenue
10
Turn right onto SR 44
16 mi
·
24 min
·
West 3rd Street
11
Turn left onto SR 44 Truck
226 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Perkins Street
12
Turn right onto SR 44 Truck
17 mi
·
25 min
·
East 1st Street
13
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 74 West, US 421 North: Indianapolis
14
Merge onto I 74; US 421
22 mi
·
23 min
·
I 74; US 421
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on this road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 94
Toward Southeastern Avenue
16
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Southeastern Avenue
17
Enter roundabout onto Southeastern Avenue
106 ft
·
5 sec
·
Southeastern Avenue
18
Continue on Southeastern Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeastern Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto East Washington Street
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Washington Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto North Illinois Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Illinois Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn right onto West Market Street
351 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Market Street
22
At end of road, turn right
257 ft
·
28 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.1 miles from Salem, IN, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.1 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indianapolis, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Salem, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Salem, IN
This is one driving day of about 78.1 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Salem, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 21.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.1 mi from Salem, IN · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.1 miles from Salem, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Indianapolis, IN
The final approach into Indianapolis, IN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.21 one way
$24.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.41 | $26.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.03 | $30.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.24 | $34.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.20 | $3.75 |
| Efficient EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.83 | $3.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.93 | $5.00 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Indianapolis, IN
Late night in Indianapolis on Friday
Local time
3:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 52m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Salem, IN to Indianapolis, IN covers 78.1 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 74, East 1st Street, West 3rd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.1 miles from Salem, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.21 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.1 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (US 27; SR 44 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (SR 44 / West Union Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Salem, IN to Indianapolis, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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